ADOPT A FLY SPECIES

Do you feel that we should stop talking and rather start to help our threatened species? If yes, then please contact me  you might be able to help!

If you feel that you would like to work on a fly (Diptera) or a group of flies (Diptera) with BAP status or on RDB species (Diptera only), please contact me. You could adopt a species or a group of species and thus resolve some of the open questions about these species.

Possible tasks

You could visit known sites and observe the species. You might be able to solve questions like where do they breed, what is their preferred habitat etc. Another option is to monitor the species on known sites and try and find new sites. But please pass records / or failure to find the species on to the relevant recording scheme if one exists (check under Forum 'Recording Schemes'). Should this be a species without a recording scheme, you might wish to gather records and help refining the knowledge of their distribution.

Some BAP species are already being worked on and have lead partners coordinating the work. This project is not intended to duplicate on-going work, but to find people willing to take on additional tasks, to continue previous work or to work together with the lead partner. Also, as the co-ordinator of this project I will bother you from time to time to remind you to share your progress or problems encountered with other adopters or dipterists, so please let me know if you take up a species or group of species.

A list of BAP species and their crude distribution is attached to this text. If you would like to receive suggestions for a few RDB species in your area, please let me know and I will send you some. If you would like to search for species yourself, the Species Reviews (Diptera) might be of help. These include all fly species with conservation status and you can download two of the Species Reviews from the JNCC webpage (see: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2133), three more will be published hopefully later this year.

Please contact me if you feel you would like to work on a species. I will forward all the information I have gathered on the species to you or inform you where you can get hold of it (if its a report).

Must it be a BAP species?

No, you can also work on a fly species with RDB status and I will coordinate that as well. However, I might have to refer you to other dipterists for information on these.

Please dont hesitate, our species need you and you dont need to be an expert on them. Others are there to help!

Please help our threatened species by getting involved in their active conservation and adopt a species. I hope to hear from you soon.

 Bombylius minor, Heath bee-fly (Bombyliidae) ENGLAND & ISLE OF MAN  Lowland sandy heathlands and acid coastal sand-dune systems with Calluna vulgaris in Southern England, and one site on the north coast of the Isle of Man (IOM).

 Botanophila fonsecai, Fonsecas Dune Fly (Anthomyiidae) Only known from one highly threatened site in Scotland (Sutherland) beside a Caravan Park

 Cliorismia rustica, Southern Silver Stiletto-fly (Therevidae) Unmodified rivers. Extensive sand and shingle bars: North East, North West and South East England, South Wales; Welsh distribution: 13 sites including 9 on the R. Usk and 3 on the R. Monnow

 Doros profuges, Phantom Hoverfly (Syrphidae) Rare in England  scattered localities in the south-east and isolated sites in the south-west and north-west. On Mull in Scotland, but absent from Wales and Northern Ireland.

 Dorycera graminum, Phoenix Fly (Ulidiidae) Southern England: in recent years it has been recorded only from Kent, Essex, Oxford, Surrey and Worcestershire and most sites are unprotected and many are in the Thames Corridor.

Re: ADOPT A FLY SPECIES

My adopted species is Milichia ludens which is a small (to 6mm) undistinguished black fly which lives in association with the Jet Ant (Lasius fuliginosus) which nests in rotting trees. It is to be found out for the next few weeks either sitting on the bark of the host ant nest tree or flying around the tree. Anybody who knows of the location of a Jet Ant nest tree could look for this fly. Any Hymenopterists out there who could spread this message more widely? I'm willing to check photographs or specimens of likely flies in alcohol. Remember it is small and black!

Re: ADOPT A FLY SPECIES

I have posted some photos of Milichia ludens in the gallery. They are not very good quality, but one can see the very distinctive wing structure which will give a clue that you have an exciting small black fly in your catch.

Re: ADOPT A FLY SPECIES

Hi Judy,

I have recently realised I have photographed a tachinid fly - Mintho rufiventris - that may be recovering or picking up in numbers in more recent years but is considered 'Nationally scarce' and is still quite rare. It's only really known from 12 sites post-1960. What's more, I have realised its host lepidopterate is in the area known from at least one dead moth from mid 2007 - and the caterpillars' food source is right next to where I saw the fly - straw, in a horse stables. On paper it seems to have all that it needs in the area to breed.

The same area and within about 50mtrs I've seen hoverflies C. veralli and X. pedissequum - both quite scarce, too!

It isn't a BAP species for whatever reason, but could it still be one of these 'adopted' species, or not?

Re: ADOPT A FLY SPECIES

Dear Jason,

It could definitely be an adopted species, but are you certain about your identification? I don't know this species myself, but tachinids can be quite tricky. I will also email your post to the Recording Scheme and get them to answer as well. I will copy you into that email, so that we all can discuss together what you might want to work on.

Best wishes,

Barbara Ismay,BAP and Conservation Officer and coordinator of Adopta a Species

Re: ADOPT A FLY SPECIES

Hi Barbara

I am willing to take on the two Dolichopus species. They have a similar geographic distribution and habitat so it makes sense to tackle them together. They both seem to be quite restricted in distribution, based on fairly recent survey work in East Anglia (I am chasing the Natural England report), so first steps will be confirming where the current populations are. Bure Marshes NNR is an important site for both species.

In the meantime if anyone has any comments on these species I'd be glad to hear them.

Re: ADOPT A FLY SPECIES

Hi Barbara,

I've been meaning to respond officially to the Adopt A Fly postings for some time so apologies for the lateness! As you know, I would like to adopt Cliorismia rustica. My reasonings are that I live very close to three rivers on which it has been found in Cheshire so it would not be difficult to travel to survey for it. Martin Drake has been very helpful regarding this species and has sent me papers regarding the distribution, ecology etc.

So far this summer my work has hindered me from spending too long on the river banks but I did manage to spend some time at the River Bollin near Manchester Airport recently but did not find C. rustica. I'll keep searching and keep you informed how I get on.